Helena Frye
Former cast member Tanya Young revealed the dirtiest secret of 'Basketball Wives LA' in 2024. She described her experience on the show as sheer hell, recalling a horrific physical fight between two cast members in a Santa Monica restaurant. Young joined the show with the intention of changing the perception of basketball players' wives as flighty, overly emotional, and senselessly dramatic. However, she was only shown in two episodes despite months of filming. Young's refusal to engage in the drama and belittle herself may have led to her reduced screen time. The physical altercation between cast members was heavily promoted by the producers, who used footage of the fight to bait their audience during teasers for the show's premiere.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Show format | Drama, showcasing the lives of the wives, ex-wives, and girlfriends of NBA players |
| Tone | Confrontational, with physical fights and name-calling |
| Cast members | Jennifer Williams, Royce Reed, Erikka Moxam, Shaunie O’Neal, Evelyn Lozada, Suzie Ketchem, Gloria Govan, Laura Govan, Kimsha Artest, Imani Showalter, Malaysia Pargo, Jackie Christie, Draya Michele, Brooke Bailey, Brandi Maxiell, Brittish Williams, Angel Brinks, LaTosha Duffey, Kesha Nichols, Kenya Bell, Kristen Scott, CeCe Gutierrez, and more |
| Storylines | Jealousies, accusations, broken alliances, and personal drama |
| Production | Cameras capture all angles of physical fights for ratings |
| Aims | To entertain with drama |
| Spin-offs | Football Wives, Baseball Wives, Shaunie's Homecourt, Baller Wives, and Basketball Wives Orlando |
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What You'll Learn
- Cast members fought publicly, with cameramen capturing every moment
- Tanya Young's intention was to change the perception that basketball players' wives are overly emotional
- Tanya Young was replaced because she refused to belittle herself and embarrass her family
- Evelyn Lozada was the ex-fiance of former NBA star Antoine Walker, who made headlines for being broke
- The show features more women who have never been married to an NBA player than current or ex-wives
Cast members fought publicly, with cameramen capturing every moment
Former cast member Tanya Young revealed the dirtiest secret of "Basketball Wives LA" in an article for The Daily Beast. She described how, within weeks of taping, a fight broke out between two cast members while they were dining at a swanky Santa Monica restaurant. The women argued and fought over who was a "rat" and who was a "hoodrat", sleeping with a married man, and other insults. Cameramen captured every moment from every angle, and the footage was used to bait the audience during teasers for the premiere. The women pulled out pieces of each other's hair, called each other names, tore each other's clothing, and struck each other in the face.
Young was shocked and angry as the women fought over her head, and producers worked to break up the fight. She had originally joined the show to change the perception that wives of basketball players are "flighty, overly emotional, and senselessly dramatic". She also wanted to bring attention to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, for which she is a celebrity spokesperson. However, she soon became disillusioned with the show, feeling that her core values and outlook on life were not represented by the other cast members. She described how she was seen as a threat by the other women because she refused to belittle herself and embarrass her family.
Young also described how, despite her intentions, she was only shown in two episodes. She was replaced by new cast members Kesha Nichols, ex-fiancée of Richard Jefferson, and Kenya Bell, wife of Charlie Bell.
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Tanya Young's intention was to change the perception that basketball players' wives are overly emotional
Tanya Young, an original cast member of VH1's "Basketball Wives LA", revealed that she joined the show to change the perception that basketball players' wives are overly emotional and dramatic. Young, the ex-wife of NBA player Jayson Williams, stated that she wanted to showcase interesting aspects of her life and bring attention to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, for which she is a celebrity spokesperson.
In an article for The Daily Beast, Young described her experience on the show as "sheer hell". She revealed that within weeks of taping, a physical fight broke out between two cast members, which was eagerly captured by the show's producers. Young also detailed the toxic and controlling environment behind the scenes, where women were chastised and emotionally manipulated to elicit more outrageous behaviour. She received cautionary advice against participating in the series, but her initial intention was to challenge the stereotype of basketball players' wives as "flighty, overly emotional, and senselessly dramatic".
Young expressed her desire to represent a larger percentage of the audience who valued sophistication and balance over the constant drama and conflict that the show portrayed. She felt that her core values and outlook on life were not adequately reflected in the show's evolving storylines. Despite shooting for months, Young only appeared in two episodes, which included footage of her involvement with the domestic violence hotline and various events.
Young's presence on the show was short-lived, as she quickly became disillusioned with the toxic environment and the portrayal of women. She received criticism for refusing to engage in the dramatic antics that had become synonymous with the show. Young's refusal to partake in the drama was seen as a threat by the producers, who relied on conflict to drive ratings.
The show's focus on sensationalism and drama has had real-world consequences for its participants. Marriages have deteriorated, friendships have soured, and physical altercations have occurred, all in the pursuit of ratings. Young's intention to challenge stereotypes and bring attention to domestic violence issues was overshadowed by the show's emphasis on drama and the toxic environment it fostered.
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Tanya Young was replaced because she refused to belittle herself and embarrass her family
Tanya Young, a cast member of Basketball Wives LA, revealed that she was replaced on the show because she refused to belittle herself and embarrass her family. Young, who is the ex-wife of a basketball player, wanted to change the perception that basketball wives are "flighty, overly emotional, and senselessly dramatic." She also wanted to bring attention to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, for which she is a celebrity spokesperson.
However, her experience on the show was far from what she had intended. Young shot for months and captured footage of her involvement with the domestic-violence hotline, charity events, and normal dining outings with the other women. Despite this, she was only shown in two episodes.
The show, which aired on VH1, was known for its drama and focus on the extravagant lives of the wives, ex-wives, and girlfriends of NBA superstars. Young refused to engage in the drama and fighting that the show was known for, and as a result, she was replaced. In her own words, she states:
> "I was not only a threat because I would not belittle myself and simultaneously embarrass my mother, my daughters, and every black woman in America, I was also a threat because I told the women that 'no television show is worth fighting on and disgracing yourself for.'"
Young's refusal to engage in the drama presented by the show and her commitment to maintaining her dignity and respect for her family ultimately led to her replacement. She recognized that her core values and outlook on life represented a larger percentage of the audience than VH1 understood, but ultimately, her desire to remain on the show waned as she became engrossed in more fulfilling work in media.
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Evelyn Lozada was the ex-fiance of former NBA star Antoine Walker, who made headlines for being broke
Evelyn Lozada, the ex-fiancée of former NBA star Antoine Walker, was one of the cast members of VH1's "Basketball Wives LA". Lozada and Walker's relationship has been a topic of interest, with Walker claiming that Lozada left him when he went broke after making more than $110 million during his 12-year career in the NBA. Walker, who played for the Boston Celtics, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2010 due to his extravagant spending habits.
Lozada, on the other hand, has been accused by Walker of taking advantage of his wealth and leaving him when his financial situation deteriorated. In an interview, Walker expressed his disappointment with Lozada, stating that she moved on with her reality show and multiple relationships without considering his well-being. He also mentioned that they got engaged in 2007 but broke up temporarily, delaying their marriage plans. Lozada, however, has a different perspective on their breakup. She claimed that Walker's infidelity, along with other issues, was the primary reason for their split.
The drama surrounding Lozada and Walker's relationship has been a source of controversy and has attracted significant attention from the media and the public. Lozada's decision to leave Walker when he faced financial difficulties has been scrutinized, with some accusing her of being a gold digger. Meanwhile, Lozada has also received sympathy due to Walker's reported infidelity during their ten-year courtship.
"Basketball Wives LA" has been known for its focus on the extravagant lifestyles and intense dramas of the cast members, who are either wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of NBA players. The show has been criticized for its portrayal of women as overly emotional and dramatic. However, some cast members, like Tanya Young, have tried to use their platform to bring attention to more serious issues, such as domestic violence. Despite the criticism and controversies, "Basketball Wives LA" has gained popularity and attracted a loyal fan base interested in the lives and relationships of these women connected to the world of professional basketball.
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The show features more women who have never been married to an NBA player than current or ex-wives
The VH1 show "Basketball Wives" has been described as "drama, drama, and more drama". The show follows the lives of women who are either the current or ex-wives, or girlfriends of NBA players. However, it has been noted that the show features more women who have never been married to an NBA player than those who are or were.
The show has been the subject of some controversy, with some criticising it for perpetuating negative stereotypes about the wives of basketball players, such as being "flighty, overly emotional, and senselessly dramatic". Indeed, one cast member, Tanya Young, revealed that she joined the show to challenge these stereotypes, but ultimately found the experience sheer hell. Young described a horrific fight between two cast members, which involved name-calling, physical violence, and accusations of sleeping with a married man. The fight was, of course, captured from every angle by the ever-present cameramen, providing ratings gold for the producers.
Despite the criticism, the show has proven popular enough to spawn multiple spin-offs, including "Football Wives", "Baseball Wives", and "Basketball Wives LA". The LA version of the show features cast members such as Gloria Govan (fiancée of Matt Barnes), Laura Govan (sister of Gloria Govan), and Malaysia Pargo (wife of Jannero Pargo).
The show has also been a platform for some of the women to bring attention to important issues, such as domestic violence. Tanya Young, for example, is a celebrity spokesperson for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and shot footage for the show involving her work with the hotline. However, this footage was ultimately not included in the show, in favour of more dramatic content.
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Frequently asked questions
The show follows the lives of seven women who are best friends and either the wife, ex-wife, or girlfriend of an NBA player. The women are shown to be driving the best cars, living in the biggest mansions, wearing designer clothes and jewelry, and only traveling first class. However, the show also highlights the jealousies and drama that come with being in the inner circle.
The cast of 'Basketball Wives LA' has included Gloria Govan, Laura Govan, Kimsha Artest, Imani Showalter, Malaysia Pargo, Jackie Christie, Draya Michele, Shaunie O'Neal, Tanya Young, Kesha Nichols, Kenya Bell, Brandi Maxiell, Brooke Bailey, Brittish Williams, Angel Brinks, LaTosha Duffey, and Liza Morales, among others.
The show has featured a range of storylines, including charity events, dining outings, and vacation trips. One notable moment was a physical fight between two cast members in a Santa Monica restaurant, which involved name-calling, hair-pulling, and striking. Another storyline involved accusations that one of the cast members played a role in ending Shaunie O'Neal's relationship.
Tanya Young, who was a cast member on the inaugural season of 'Basketball Wives LA', decided to leave the show due to its negative portrayal of basketball wives as "flighty, overly emotional, and senselessly dramatic". She also felt that her values and outlook on life were not aligned with the direction of the show, and she wanted to focus on more fulfilling work.
